Lewisham

Lewisham's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Lewisham increased by 11%, from just under 249,000 to 276,000.

The addition of almost 27,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Lewisham was home to, on average, 56 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Lewisham

Latest census data also show that the median age of Lewisham remained 33 years in the decade to 2011.

This urban area had a slightly higher average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 9,700 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by just over 700.

About 15% of people in Lewisham are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lewisham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Lewisham

The percentage of Lewisham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 5.2% to 5.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.7%, while the percentage of Lewisham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Lewisham

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Lewisham at a faster rate than across London.

In Lewisham, the proportion of single people increased from 46% in 2001 to 50% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 41% to 44%.

Across London, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 41% to 44%.

The proportion of married people in Lewisham fell from 36% to 33%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner remained close to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Living alone in Lewisham

The percentage of households with only one person fell in Lewisham, but at a slower rate than all other London boroughs, except Newham and Camden.

During this period, Lewisham overtook five local authority areas, including Greenwich and Richmond upon Thames, to become the London local authority area with the 10th-highest percentage of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Lewisham

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 27% in 2001

The number of people in Lewisham that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 51,000 in 2001 to just over 75,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 20% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across London (from 16% to 21%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Lewisham that described themselves as Christian remained close to 150,000 between the last two censuses (from 61% to 53% of the population). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 25,000 (8.9%)

About 18,000 people (4.6%) said they were Muslim, up from about 11,000 in 2001 (6.4%).

The population without a religion in Lewisham increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lewisham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Lewisham that rented privately increased from 13% to 24% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households lived in social housing, compared with 35% in 2001. The percentage of Lewisham households that owned their home decreased from 49% to 42%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of London (from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Lewisham increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of households in Lewisham, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Lewisham

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 54% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 54% in 2001

The number of people in Lewisham from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 160,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 66% to 54% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across London (from 71% to 60%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Lewisham from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 58,000 in 2001 to about 75,000 in 2011 (from 23% to 27%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 13,000 to just under 26,000 (from 5.2% to 9.3%).

About 20,000 people (4.2%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 10,000 in 2001 (7.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Lewisham decreased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lewisham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Lewisham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.5% to 5.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Lewisham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Lewisham decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Lewisham, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children fell in Lewisham, but at a slower rate than in Greenwich (one of the most statistically similar areas to Lewisham based on ONS area classifications).

In Lewisham, the proportion of households without children decreased from 61% in 2001 to 60% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Greenwich decreased from 61% to 57%.

Across London, the share of households without children decreased from 62% to 60%.

The proportion of households with children in Lewisham increased from 30% to 32%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.6% to 8.7%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Lewisham residents that were studying increased from 3.4% to 4.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 52%, while the percentage of Lewisham residents that were unemployed increased from 5.6% to 6.2%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 3.0% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Lewisham increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Lewisham, London and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Lewisham working less than 16 hours increased from 1.9% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Lewisham increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Lewisham, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Lewisham residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 1.8% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Lewisham remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Lewisham by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links